May 23, 2012

Written by

Jim Low

Missouri Department of Conservation

On the first Saturday of June each year, the American Hiking Society encourages people to discover the healthy fun of spending time hiking, biking and horseback riding.

National Trails Day falls on June 2 this year, and the Missouri Department of Conservation bends over backward to make it easy to celebrate the occasion. Conservation areas have trails that range from short, wheelchair-accessible loops to more than 30 miles of interconnected loops and spurs. In all, conservation areas have more than 700 miles of foot, bicycle and equestrian trails on 136 conservation areas and 10 nature and education centers statewide. This includes 45 areas for horseback riding and 52 areas that allow cycling.

At their most basic, conservation area trails consist of parking lots and trail markers on trees. Other conservation areas have facilities such as nature centers, self-guided interpretive trails, shooting ranges, scenic overlooks, fishing lakes, stream-fishing and boating accesses, campsites and privies. Some trails traverse unique landscapes that are part of the Missouri Natural Area system.

You can find a trail near you by contacting the nearest MDC office or use MDC’s conservation-area database (mdc.mo.gov/node/3392) to search for trails by type or by county and access area maps and area regulations. One local area is the Springfield Conservation Nature Center, located at 4601 S. Nature Center Way.

Hiking is permitted on all designated trails. Horseback riding and cycling are limited to trails specially designated for these activities. However, public roads open to vehicular traffic are open to horseback riding and bicycling unless otherwise posted.

When hiking or riding a trail, follow these tips to help ensure a safe experience:

• Get a map and familiarize yourself with the area you want to visit.

• Tell someone about your plans, including when you expect to return.

• Check weather conditions and avoid inclement weather.

• Dress appropriately.

• Learn to recognize possible plant and animal hazards such as poison ivy and ticks.

• Follow all area regulations.

• Leave only footprints and take only photographs.

Find more information from the Missouri Department of Conservation on its website, http://mdc.mo.gov/